Replacing a Morgan Airbag Steering Wheel (Overseas 1998 to 2004)
Text and Photos by John McNulty
Published December 2016 by Morgazette
The newsletter of the Morgan Sorts Car Club of Northern California

Webmaster Note: There is a growing group of moggers, now owners of newer models, who are dismayed by the aesthetic, cost, mechanical and engine management compromises in the last 15-20 years...the list is growing.  However, with a bit or courage and some tools, many of these elements can be reversed.

For the past five years I have struggled with the ugly  federalized air bag wheel in my 2003 +8. With advice from  a couple of people and YouTube I decided to “downgrade“  it to a wooden steering wheel  The insurance company did not care. I understand this also works on the Roadster. Besides aesthetics. there are several reasons to change over. The wheel is smaller than the original and that makes  for a little more leg room. It is also tp the dash allowing for more waist line and movement.  It is easier to see the speedo and tachometer. It is eight pounds lighter which gives one more steering feel.

The wood wheel looks like it belongs. The original factory wheel is from a 1994-95 (or so) from a Jaguar XJS. I replaced it with a Moto Lita (B71 wide back boss kit) but   there are probably cheaper ones. It is their Mahogany model, though in retrospect I wish that I had picked Walnut to match the dash. Webmaster: Actually, there is no Moto Lita wheel model that can match a Morgan Burl Walnut dash even in their thicker rim models which miust be specially ordered. Moto Lita steering wheels are made with many plys and therefore cannot show the burl effect which requires solid rather than plied wood.

There are two choices of bosses, black or stainless.  I chose the black. The stainless was too bright for me. There is also a leather covered piece available hat replaces the one that is behind the boss. A black plastic hom button wjth a Mog logo comes with the boss and can be used at your option. My wife, an artist, picked the stainless so that is what we used, though I like the black.

Procedure: The air bag is mechanical. no electrical connections. It works similar to a land mine. When impacted, it deploys. Remove the left wind wing if attached.

1. Make a special tool to back off the brass screw. This is done by flattening the opening of a 5 mm socket as to make it “D“ shaped.The socket may need grinding down in diameter to fit.

 2. Lift the small door on lower back of steering wheel. Secure it with a tie.

3. Using the D shaped socket. carefully back out the brass screw counter clockwise. This will deactivate the bag.

4. Slide back the protector that covers one of the bolts that holds the bag in place. Loosen the bolt. Note that the bolt cannot be fully removed.         Remove the other two nuts. Do not let the bag fall. Carefully remove the bag assembly and put it in a safe place.

5. Using a socket. loosen the nut that holds the wheel. Do not remove it yet. Sit in seat and gently pull back on the wheel. It should come loose. Remove nut and wheel.

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